Suchergebnisse

This thesis is an attempt to provide academically supported answers to practically important questions and aims to capture qualitative benefits of IPSASs-like reforms. In a first and second instance, it concentrates on IPSASs implementation effects in Switzerland. The research focus pertains to Swiss states which have been currently undertaken by IPSASs-like reforms. In a third and fourth instance, the thesis examines the international adoption of the IPSASs, with the research focus being UN System Organizations and selected OECD member countries. This thesis is split into three sections. While Section 1 introduces the overall topic of the thesis and outlines the structure, Section 2 puts the thesis in a theoretical framework. Section 2 also outlines and presents the global spread of IPSASs adoption and identifies a need to further elaborate IPSASs implementation effects. In essence, it states four major research objectives which all address fundamental research questions dedicated to better understanding IPSASs implementation. The third section presents four chapters pertaining to meet the stated research objectives. In summary, this thesis found supportive empirical arguments in favor of IPSASs adoption. We found evidence that the IPSASs bear the capacity to develop and shape decision-making processes and that it has positive effects on accountability and transparency. Furthermore, there is evidence that the IPSASs have the ability to raise management debates about core revenue streams, particularly in the context of UN System Organizations. Together with these findings, the thesis provides additional information for practitioners, specifically government officials, public financial management experts and international consultants concerned about the impact of the IPSASs. However, it is worth emphasizing that this dissertation does not aim to convince any IPSASs-pessimistic exponent to begin or proceed with IPSASs-style reforms. Although academic literature in general – and this thesis in specific – finds supportive arguments in favor of implementing IPSASs, critical counterarguments remain.

Rund um die Erreichung der Entwicklungsziele (Millennium Development Goals der UNO) gewinnen Mikrokredite zunehmend an Bedeutung. Diese, so die Hoffnung, reduzieren die Weltarmut nachhaltig – und dies erst noch kosteneffizient. Ist die damit verbundene Hoffnung gerechtfertigt?

AbstractThis article will describe the implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in UN System Organizations and consider technically controversial issues such as revenue recognition in more detail. Based on the IPSAS financial statements of 24 UN System Organizations, the article provides an overview about current funding schemes and key issues related to conditional contributions. Results show a heterogeneous funding mix for UN System Organizations while, overall, voluntary contributions remain the most important revenue source. The main accounting implication arises from conditional voluntary contributions with specified performance obligations, requiring an entity to defer revenue and recognize a liability. Although all analysed UN System Organizations report under the same accounting principles, there exist differences in the level of information concerning conditional contributions and outstanding performance obligations. The article concludes that IPSAS bears the capacity to increase overall financial accountability and to trigger management debates about issues such as resource dependency, topics being discussed by other contributions in this special issue. Overall it is argued that IPSAS shall not be seen as a mere technical exercise, but as a management tool to ensure a flexible funding scheme to successfully achieve an entity's long‐term objectives.

This article will describe the implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in UN System Organizations and consider technically controversial issues such as revenue recognition in more detail. Based on the IPSAS financial statements of 24 UN System Organizations, the article provides an overview about current funding schemes and key issues related to conditional contributions. Results show a heterogeneous funding mix for UN System Organizations while, overall, voluntary contributions remain the most important revenue source. The main accounting implication arises from conditional voluntary contributions with specified performance obligations, requiring an entity to defer revenue and recognize a liability. Although all analysed UN System Organizations report under the same accounting principles, there exist differences in the level of information concerning conditional contributions and outstanding performance obligations. The article concludes that IPSAS bears the capacity to increase overall financial accountability and to trigger management debates about issues such as resource dependency, topics being discussed by other contributions in this special issue. Overall it is argued that IPSAS shall not be seen as a mere technical exercise, but as a management tool to ensure a flexible funding scheme to successfully achieve an entity's long-term objectives.

World Bank PULSAR knowledge product ; This PULSAR knowledge product elaborates mechanisms through which asset accounting may contribute to optimize fixed asset portfolios of governments by providing scientifically sound and practical answers to the following main questions: - How are fixed assets recorded in an asset registry? - How is fixed asset information captured in financial reports? - How can the best use of asset information be made? The paper further presents good practices rooted in international country experience and relevant standards, such as the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). It also discusses key issues and challenges related to fixed asset management through the lens of public sector accounting.

Public sector or government accounting has been the subject of many research endeavors. However, scholars have repeatedly criticized the lack of a consistent and well-defined theoretical basis for international research. So far, most researchers have drawn from various streams of theoretical perspectives with often unsatisfactory results. The goal of this paper is to put forward the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board's (IPSASB) Conceptual Framework as a point of reference for establishing a better-fitting theoretical basis for public sector accrual accounting research.

There is little doubt that the great financial crisis (GFC) that started in 2007 has substantially changed central banking. Central banks (CBs) were forced to undertake financial interventions that were larger and financially riskier than any previously undertaken. Such interventions have led CBs balance sheets – together with the corresponding underlying risks – expand to record levels. Such interventions have undoubtedly intensified the debate about central bank equity and financial resilience. If the public wants to finds reasons for criticism, then an easy target may be central bank (negative) equity, and more generally, central bank financial resilience. Overall, the financial strength and resilience of CBs have come under closer academic, political and also public scrutiny. Despite closer scrutiny, there exists surprisingly little academic work concerning the role and importance of central bank financial resilience. This paper will complement limited academic research with respect to central bank financial resilience and aims to establish a comprehensive framework to manage and govern financial resilience through combining operational and institutional aspects of CB. Based on the established theoretical resilience framework, we aim to analyze and measure the resilience of all 36 OECD central banks, by scrutinizing CB legislative frameworks and financial statements in order to elaborate different roles, targets and managing aspects of CB financial resilience. First results show a heterogeneous landscape of CB financial resilience and that the consequences of weak financial resilience might be underestimated significantly. The paper reveals the need to establish a recognized practice guideline, to govern and monitor CB financial resilience.

Based on comparative, cross-sectional evidence of 15 Swiss sub-national governments this paper assesses the impact of different accrual accounting reforms on financial reporting and elaborates how this new information has affected decision-making processes. Results show that accrual financial reporting is a necessary instrument towards achieving resilient government finances. This paper embraces relevant questions for developed and developing countries, particularly in the context of heavily indebted public sector entities, ongoing accrual accounting reforms and the looming EPSAS promulgation. The paper reveals that accrual accounting reforms act as an important trigger point towards a more strategic use of newly provided financial data.

Based on comparative, cross-sectional evidence of 15 Swiss sub-national governments this paper assesses the impact of different accrual accounting reforms on financial reporting and elaborates how this new information has affected decision-making processes. Results show that accrual financial reporting is a necessary instrument towards achieving resilient government finances. This paper embraces relevant questions for developed and developing countries, particularly in the context of heavily indebted public sector entities, ongoing accrual accounting reforms and the looming EPSAS promulgation. The paper reveals that accrual accounting reforms act as an important trigger point towards a more strategic use of newly provided financial data.

Schweizer Kantone sind massgeblich an Energieversorgungsunternehmen (EVU) beteiligt. So befinden sich beispielsweise Unternehmen wie Axpo, Alpiq, BKW oder Repower AG mehrheitlich im Besitz eines oder mehrerer Kantone. Im Rahmen des ersten Working Papers wurde untersucht, wie eine modernere Finanzberichterstattung wie HRM2 oder IPSAS, Chancen und Risiken aus öffentlich-rechtlichen Beteiligungsportfolios an EVUs transparenter darstellen kann und somit einen breiteren politischen Diskurs über strategische Beteiligungsentscheide ermöglicht. Das zweite Working Paper dieser Serie knüpft an die Ergebnisse des ersten Papers an, indem die betriebswirt-schaftlichen, finanzrechtlichen und finanzpolitischen Implikationen der Einführung von HRM2 in Sinne einer modernen und transparenten Finanzberichterstattung dargelegt werden. Die Ergebnisse beruhen auf einer Fallstudie des Kantons Graubünden und seiner namhaften Beteiligung an der Repower AG. Als Datengrundlage dienen 4 Experteninterviews mit Vertretern des Kantons Graubünden sowie die Jahresrechnungen der Jahre 2011 bis 2015. Zudem wurde die neu erarbeitete Eignerstrategie, welche der Kanton Graubünden für seine Beteiligung an der Repower AG ausgearbeitet hat, mitberücksichtigt. Die Resultate zeigen, dass im Rahmen der HRM2-Einführung eine neue Zuteilung der Repower-Beteiligung vom Verwaltungsvermögen ins Finanzvermögen stattgefunden hat, was Implikationen in mehreren Bereichen zur Folge hatte. Die HRM2 Empfehlungen werden im neuen Finanzhaushaltsgesetz (FHG) in Graubünden umgesetzt, wodurch sie Gesetzescharakter erhielten und somit finanzrechtlich relevant sind. Aus betriebswirtschaftlicher Perspektive wurde eine Marktbewertung der Beteiligungen vorgenommen, was insbesondere im Kontext tiefer Strommarktpreise und tieferen Ertragsprognosen der Repower AG zu substantiellen Wertkorrekturen in der Bilanz, bzw. der Erfolgsrechnung und den daraus folgenden Erfolgsbelastungen führte. Aus finanzpolitischer Perspektive ergibt sich dadurch die Fragestellung, wie mit (veräusserbaren) Beteiligungen ohne Renditepotential umzugehen ist. Aus dieser Fragestellung lässt sich ein Zielkonflikt ableiten, da Beteiligungen im Finanzvermögen primär zur Renditeabsicht gehalten werden, und weniger deshalb, weil damit eine öffentliche Aufgabe sowie regional- und volkswirtschaftliche Ziele verfolgt werden. Konkret stellt sich die Frage, ob die Zuordnung der Beteiligungen am EVU Repower AG zum Finanzvermögen, allenfalls zu überprüfen ist.

The new municipal law in the canton of Zurich obliges the municipalities to adopt HAM2 by the year 2019. The aim of this article is to analyze the implementation costs of this new model by using the "Analysis of regulatory costs" from the Swiss federal government. It is the first time this methodology is being used on a regulation at cantonal level. Regarding empirical evidence, 17 interviews with all pilot- and project communities within the canton of Zurich serve as the basis of data. This full census is completed by a validation interview with the respective cantonal authority.The results show that the absolute costs of the implementation of HAM2 strongly correlate with the size of a community. Looking at the relative costs per capita, it appears that HAM2 is less cost intensive for tax subjects of larger municipalities. Besides the one-time project effort of implementation, the municipalities also have additional expenses in their daily business. However, these costs are low and worthwhile since they include managing the fixed assets accounting, which is according to the interviewees the most crucial advantage of HAM2.